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Charred Wooden Shingles and Concrete Facades in a Sustainable Urban Housing Solution

Author:
Florian Mouafo Zambou
Charred Wooden Shingles and Concrete Facades in a Sustainable Urban Housing Solution

Project in-detail

Constructed with charred wooden shingles and concrete facades, this urban housing solution integrates modular units and communal gardens to enhance sustainable living while fostering community interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred wooden shingles to enhance durability and aesthetics.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for improved thermal performance.
03
Features modular unit designs that promote flexible living arrangements.
04
Includes integrated communal gardens to encourage social interaction.
05
Utilizes a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and views.

### Overview

Located in a contemporary urban environment, this design project combines residential units and public spaces to enhance community engagement through modular and flexible layouts. The intent is to create a cohesive setting that prioritizes social interaction while incorporating sustainable design principles.

### Spatial Configuration and Public Engagement

The design employs modular principles in public spaces to optimize connectivity and usability. Various layouts incorporate circular and grid forms to improve pedestrian movement, facilitating access to open green areas and walkable pathways. Clearly marked circulation routes, represented in blue in the plans, encourage navigation and foster safe interactions among users. The integration of communal seating and serene green areas promotes gatherings, thereby enhancing inclusivity and social bonding within the community.

### Housing Diversity and Cluster Strategy

The residential component features an innovative Housing Modular Principle that accommodates various living types. This approach includes apartment clusters designed for different family sizes, offering studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units. The clustering strategy emphasizes space efficiency while fostering social bonds among residents. Communal areas within the floor plans enhance shared living, and vertical circulation is carefully designed to ensure easy access across different levels, further supporting a sense of community.

### Material Selection

Material choice is central to achieving the project’s sustainability and aesthetic goals. Concrete serves as the structural foundation, providing strength and durability, while glass is utilized to create transparency and promote natural light, linking interior and exterior environments. Wood is incorporated into balconies and gardens to introduce warmth and an organic quality, enhancing the ambiance. Additionally, green roofs on residential units contribute to biodiversity, support thermal insulation, and integrate ecological balance within the urban landscape. Each material is selected for its functionality and aesthetic contribution to the overall environment.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Kinderspace
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